Medicated feed, is it ever too late?

[naparocks]

My chicks are now 3 weeks old and I started them on non-medicated feed. I am now considering switching them to medicated. The medicated vs. non-medicated debate aside, would starting them 3 weeks in offer any benefit? They have not been introduced to the outside area yet, other than some dirt I collected for a dust bath for them. That dirt was set out in the sun (UV exposure) to dry beforehand so I don't know if there was any benefit as far as slowly building immunity. It is also not left in the brooder all the time.

 

[Cayuga momma]

I am not an expert, but from as far as I know is that Medicated Feed only has a small amount of Amprollium to help fight against coccidiosis. It won't prevent it. I don't see what starting Medicated would hurt at 3 weeks. But have some corid on hand if they do have problems with it later which I have been told can show up as early as 6 weeks.

 

[Mckennas poultry]

Medicated feed is formulated for chicks to help them combat coccidiosis, a disease that is found just about everywhere in the environment. Most medicated starter feeds contain the medication amprollium. Amprollium does not *treat* coccidiosis, but it helps the babies fight off cocci oocysts while they develop their own immunity. It is a preventative. If your birds have been vaccinated against coccidiosis, feeding them medicated feed will nullify the coccidiosis vaccination, although it will not hurt them. (We do not offer the coccidiosis vaccine, as it is too stressful on the birds--we offer the Marek's vaccine, which is not affected one way or the other by whether you use medicated feed.)

Most chick feeds, medicated or not, are formulated to be fed to babies who are no more than a few months old, but different brands have different suggested feeding periods. Some brands have a grower or developer feed that is meant to be given to babies between their chick starter and their layer feed. You will have to check the label of your particular brand of feed to see what the suggestions are for based on the formulations. Keep in mind that layer feed is not fed to growing birds because it contains too much calcium at the quantities they are eating, and chick feed (medicated or otherwise) is not fed to adult hens because it doesn't have enough calcium. A great deal of calcium is needed for the hens to produce strong eggshells.Medicated starter is not meant to be fed to laying hens, even if they were to become ill with coccidiosis. If an adult chicken were to fall ill to coccidiosis (which would be rare), the usual treatment is Sulmet, a sulfa drug. To reiterate, amprollium in medicated feed is not used to *treat* coccidiosis infections;it is a preventative used while the baby chickens are building their own resistance. Adult hens on medicated feed may transmit some of the medication via their eggs--not a good idea!

It is not really necessary to use medicated feed at all, although some people prefer to use it as a sort of insurance policy. You can use regular, unmedicated starter feed. Chicks can live and grow without medication (and have done for time out of mind), but in that case, their environments should be kept extra clean, since coccidia oocysts proliferate in wet environments. It is much easier to raise, say, 6 or 10 baby chicks with regular feed than it is to raise thousands in factory farm conditions. Conditions in factory farms often require medicated feed since the brooders are (sadly) not always kept clean and dry like you would keep them at home.

 

[ellie62706]

Medicated feed only has small amounts of added vitamins, so it definitely won't have too much effect on them.

 

[Cayuga momma]

Due to some confusion on dose amounts regarding the powder, I decided to do some research and this is what I have so far. For those of you that use powder Corid, if you have been using 1/2 teaspoon per gallon (~270mg) you haven't been using enough.

The preventative dose (.006%) for Corid Powder is 1/3 teaspoon.
The preventative dose (.006%) for Corid liquid is 1/2 teaspoon.

The moderate outbreak dose (.012%) for Corid Powder is 3/4 teaspoon.
The moderate outbreak dose (.012%) for Corid liquid is 1 teaspoon.

The severe outbreak dose (.024%) for Corid Powder is 1.5 teaspoons
The severe outbreak dose (.024%) for Corid liquid is 2 teaspoon.

Corid mixing instructions for preventative (.006%) and moderate (.012%) outbreak dosing.
http://www.corid.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/CORID Slim Jim-All.pdf

Amprol 20% powder:
http://www.asp-inc.com/products/documents/prodinfo/a/amp128.pdf

Amprol 9.6% liquid:
http://www.asp-inc.com/products/documents/prodinfo/a/amp96.pdf

FDA recommendations:
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/animaldrugsatfda/details.cfm?dn=013-149
"Chickens
Indications: For the treatment of coccidiosis.
Amount: Administer at the 0.012 percent level in drinking water as soon as coccidiosis is diagnosed and continue for 3 to 5 days (in severe outbreaks, give amprolium at the 0.024 percent level); continue with 0.006 percent amprolium-medicated water for an additional 1 to 2 weeks."

And this link has these instructions:
http://www.drugs.com/vet/amprol-9-6-solution-can.html
"Poultry - as Soon As Caecal Coccidiosis Is Diagnosed, Give 0.024% Amprolium In The Drinking Water For 5 To 7 Days. Continue The Treatment With 0.006% Amprolium Medicated Water For An Additional One To Two Weeks. No Other Source Of Drinking Water Should Be Available To The Birds During This Time."

Here's the math, let me know if I made an error.

• There are 200mg of amprolium in every 1 gram of powder.
• 1 ounce = 3.5 tablespoons = 28.35 grams
• 200mg x 28.35 = 5670mg in 3.5 tablespoons of powder.
• There are 10.5 teaspoons in 3.5 tablespoons
• There are 21 1/2 teaspoons in 10.5 teaspoons
• 5670mg divided by 21 1/2 teaspoons = ~270mg per 1/2 teaspoon
• There are two 1/4 teaspoons per 1/2 teaspoon
• 270 mg divided by 2 = 135mg per 1/4 teaspoon

Amount of Amprolium (Corid or Amprol) powder per 1/4 teaspoon
​

• One 1/4 teaspoon = 135 mg
• 1/2 teaspoon = 270 mg
• 3/4 teaspoon =405 mg
• 1 teaspoon = 540 mg
• 1 & 1/4 teaspoons = 675 mg
• 1 & 1/2 teaspoons = 810 mg
• 1 & 3/4 teaspoons = 945 mg
• 2 teaspoons= 1080 mg

Amount of Amprolium (Corid or Amprol) liquid per 1/4 teaspoon
​

• One 1/4 teaspoon = 120 mg
• 1/2 teaspoon = 240 mg
• 3/4 teaspoons = 360 mg
• 1 teaspoon = 480 mg
• 1 & 1/4 teaspoons = 600 mg
• 1 & 1/2 teaspoons = 720 mg
• 1 & 3/4 teaspoons = 840
• 2 teaspoons = 960 mg

There are 4.92892ml/teaspoon, but the numbers above were calculated using 5ml/teaspoon

​

Here is what's in 1-10ml of the liquid

• 1ml = 96mg
• 2ml = 192mg
• 3ml = 288mg
• 4ml = 384mg
• 5ml = 480mg
• 6ml = 576mg
• 7ml = 672mg
• 8ml = 768mg
• 9ml = 864mg
• 10ml = 960mg

Bottom line, 1 teaspoon (540mg) of powder is equal to 5.625ml of liquid and 1/2 teaspoon powder (270mg) is equal to 2.8125ml liquid.

1/2 teaspoon of 20% powder = 2.8125ml of 9.6% liquid - Both have 270mg of amprolium.
3/4 teaspoon of 20% powder = 4.21875ml of 9.6% liquid - Both have 405mg of amprolium.
1 teaspoon of 20% powder = 5.625ml of 9.6% liquid - Both have 540mg of amprolium.
1.5 teaspoons of 20% powder =8.4375ml of 9.6% liquid - Both have 810mg of amprolium.
1.75 teaspoons of 20% powder = 9.84375ml of 9.6% liquid - Both have 945mg of amprolium.
2 teaspoons of 20% powder = 11.25ml of 9.6% liquid - Both have 1080mg of amprolium.



And if that doesn't convince people, here is another way I did it:

From:
http://www.asp-inc.com/products/documents/prodinfo/a/amp128.pdf:

Dosage Level Mixing Directions
0.024% Dissolve 8 ounces of AMPROL 128 20% Soluble Powder in about five gallons of water in a 50-gallon medication barrel. Stir, then add water to the 50 gallon mark. Stir thoroughly.
0.012% Follow same directions as above but use 4 ounces of AMPROL 128 20% Soluble Powder.
0.006% Follow same directions as above but use 2 ounces of AMPROL 128 20% Soluble Powder.

Facts

• One pack = 10 oz. (283.5 grams)
• One ounce = 28.35 grams
• One ounce of powder = ~3.5 tablespoons
• 200mg amprolium per 1 gram

My twisted math for the .024% level
If 8 ounces (28.35g x 8 = 226.8 grams) are needed for 50 gallons, then 1/50 of that is needed for 1 gallon, right? So that would be 226.8 grams divided by 50 = 4.536 grams per gallon. (doing this as I type, so correct me if I'm wrong, please!)

So how much does a teaspoon of Corid or Amprol powder weigh? Anyone know? Well, time to break out my gram scale and do some weighing... also have a call into the mfg of Corid and I'm expecting a call back from them.

Just got a call back from them and it is 4.536 grams per gallon. He also said that it's a very safe product and the risk of overdosing is very slim.

-Kathy


Disclaimer:
In the past I have treated my chicken chicks with 2 teaspoons of the liquid for 5-7 days, that's it, but I *might* try the .006% follow up the next time I have to treat chicks.

Medicated feed is formulated for chicks to help them combat coccidiosis, a disease that is found just about everywhere in the environment. Most medicated starter feeds contain the medication amprollium. Amprollium does not *treat* coccidiosis, but it helps the babies fight off cocci oocysts while they develop their own immunity. It is a preventative. If your birds have been vaccinated against coccidiosis, feeding them medicated feed will nullify the coccidiosis vaccination, although it will not hurt them. (We do not offer the coccidiosis vaccine, as it is too stressful on the birds--we offer the Marek's vaccine, which is not affected one way or the other by whether you use medicated feed.)

Most chick feeds, medicated or not, are formulated to be fed to babies who are no more than a few months old, but different brands have different suggested feeding periods. Some brands have a grower or developer feed that is meant to be given to babies between their chick starter and their layer feed. You will have to check the label of your particular brand of feed to see what the suggestions are for based on the formulations. Keep in mind that layer feed is not fed to growing birds because it contains too much calcium at the quantities they are eating, and chick feed (medicated or otherwise) is not fed to adult hens because it doesn't have enough calcium. A great deal of calcium is needed for the hens to produce strong eggshells.Medicated starter is not meant to be fed to laying hens, even if they were to become ill with coccidiosis. If an adult chicken were to fall ill to coccidiosis (which would be rare), the usual treatment is Sulmet, a sulfa drug. To reiterate, amprollium in medicated feed is not used to *treat* coccidiosis infections;it is a preventative used while the baby chickens are building their own resistance. Adult hens on medicated feed may transmit some of the medication via their eggs--not a good idea!

It is not really necessary to use medicated feed at all, although some people prefer to use it as a sort of insurance policy. You can use regular, unmedicated starter feed. Chicks can live and grow without medication (and have done for time out of mind), but in that case, their environments should be kept extra clean, since coccidia oocysts proliferate in wet environments. It is much easier to raise, say, 6 or 10 baby chicks with regular feed than it is to raise thousands in factory farm conditions. Conditions in factory farms often require medicated feed since the brooders are (sadly) not always kept clean and dry like you would keep them at home.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

By giving them dirt you are providing mild exposure to aid in them combating the cocci around your home. You may or may not have any problems in your area. Heavy cocci concentrations are area specific and not a problem in the North regions unless soil becomes "poultry sick" which is a term used for over concentration of birds on same soil for extended period. And as you know the medicated is merely building up a tolerance which is what your doing by providing soil. It's not a cure merely aid in coping IF there is high concentration in your soil. When birds are older they can cope, even with extreme cocci levels. They can not cope to high levels when chicks.

Will medicated help? Well, you've already exposed them to the soil, but by sun drying it we're assuming it was sterilized? By providing enough for a dust bath that's a good exposure to what you may have. If your thought is you have a cocci issue then yes, using medicated at three weeks of age for a few weeks prior to putting the birds outside would have a benefit. In the same way as putting small amount of your soil in brooder, small tuft of grass with soil entact for them to peck at.

Regardless, medicated won't hurt them; if you are out of feed and buying more it's your choice, though medicated is a dollar more. If your going out of way to purchase medicated and already have a full bag of non medicated I'd not bother doing that at all. Pull up a tuft of grass roots and all to let them peck at instead.

 

[lazy gardener]

You can start them on medicated feed, or not. Your choice. I have never used medicated feed, never had issue with coccidiosis. I give my chicks a plug of sod from my yard early in their development so they can be exposed to the cocci in my yard and develop resistance to those cocci. That soil will have an ample supply of cocci as well as beneficial bacteria and fungi to jump start their immune and digestive systems. It will also have other pathogens which will help them to develop a healthy immune response.

 

[Cayuga momma]

Corid is Amprollium which is used to treat and prevent coccidiosis. Some prefer over the Sulmet, as that has been found to be harsher on the chickens systems.
Again though the Amprollium in medicated chick feed it isn't enough to treat cocci. And you should be fine to feed it to them.

 

[naparocks]

Thank you everyone for the information, advice, and the time it took to share it all with me!. My goal is to build their immunity. The chicks were not vaccinated. I had read recently where the medicated feed helped to gradually build immunity. If introducing them to my soil s sufficient I would prefer to do that. I still have plenty of the non-medicated feed. I also have a bottle of Corid just in case.

Right now they are healthy, happy, well fed and watered. And probably fretted over way too much .

 

[Cayuga momma]

We all fret, lol. Enjoy your babies